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US Government Shutdown Hits Day 40, Severely Disrupts Air Travel

Travel

Business Honor
10 November, 2025

Thousands of flights canceled, delayed as FAA reduces capacity ahead of Thanksgiving holidays.

The ongoing shutdown of the U.S. government reached day 40 and has caused heavy disruptions in air travel throughout the country. Thousands of flights have either been delayed or canceled amid concerns that the period of Thanksgiving would see more troubles. According to FlightAware, over 2,000 flights were canceled and more than 8,000 were delayed nationwide as of the weekend.

The disruption occurs in conjunction with the FAA's decision to cut flight capacity by 10% at 40 major airports in a bid to ease the staffing shortages of staff and minimize safety risks in the airspace. The shutdown has compelled many air-traffic controllers to go on leave, which has been left to others, who are made to work for extended hours. The result has been a sharp jump in flight cancellations, reportedly from 202 on Thursday to 1,025 on Friday, and further to 1,586 on Saturday, according to reports coming from Xinhua News Agency.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned the situation was likely to deteriorate before Thanksgiving, saying, “It’s only going to get worse, you’re going to see air travel be reduced to a trickle.” Economic impacts could be quite substantial: Kevin Hassett, Director of the National Economic Council, noted that Thanksgiving travel disruptions could help push the fourth fiscal quarter to a negative economic quarter.

Holiday travelers are predicted to check flight schedules, prepare for delays, and consider alternative routing. Airlines and the FAA continue to monitor the situation; however, since it is not known when the shutdown will be lifted, disruptions can be expected to continue. For travelers planning holiday flights, staying informed and flexible will be essential in navigating this historic disruption in U.S. air travel.